Effectiveness of health instruction provided by student nurses in rural secondary schools of Zimbabwe: a feasibility study

Abstract

This demonstration project used student nurses (n = 12) on community deployment to provide health instruction among rural school-age populations in Zimbabwe. A quasi-experimental (pre- and post-test), non-equivalent control group design was used and consisted of 141 school pupils in the intervention group and 144 pupils in the comparison group (N = 285). The curriculum focused on prevention of STDs, HIV/AIDS and drugs (alcohol, tobacco and marijuana). A gain in health knowledge scores among the intervention group was reported at post-test. More than 70% of the pupils who received health instruction from student nurses gave a high approval rating of student nurses' performance. Further, student nurses, teachers and tutors all support school health instruction by student nurses although tutors and teachers differ on teaching about condoms.

PIP: In Zimbabwe, as part of a demonstration project, nursing schools sent 12 student nurses to five rural secondary schools in Masvingo Province to provide health education over a seven-week period to 141 students (9.33 hours/student). Community deployment of student nurses to rural areas, aiming to provide them with primary health care experience, is required for graduation in Zimbabwe. 144 students comprised the control group. Curriculum topics included AIDS, other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), and drugs (alcohol, tobacco, and marijuana). AIDS/STD educational materials concentrated on modes of transmission, prevention methods, control of transmission, psychosocial issues, responsible sexual behavior, and problem-solving and decision-making strategies. Drug use and abuse materials focused on short- and long-term effects; social influences of acquisition, maintenance, and cessation; and social pressure resistance training through problem-solving and decision-making strategies. Students in the intervention group increased their post-test scores in 24 of 27 health knowledge items (for 14 of 24 items, p 0.01). More than 70% of students rated the student nurses' performance in health education high. Both the student nurses' tutors and the school teachers supported the concept of using student nurses to provide health education in schools while on community deployment. Tutors were more likely than teachers to support student nurses' teaching about condom use.